No 3. Term 1 Week 5, 1st March 2024

Principal's News

I hope this message finds you all in good spirits as we venture further into this exciting school term. It brings me immense joy to share with you some highlights from over the last two weeks and reminders from our vibrant community.

Firstly, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the families who attended the Information Nights hosted by Fr. Fabian over the last two Tuesday evenings. Your presence and engagement underscore our commitment to nurturing the spiritual growth of our students. It's truly heartwarming to see such strong participation from families as we prepare our students for the sacraments ahead.

An especially significant highlight has also been the selection of bright young leaders emerging from our Grade 6 cohort! From House leaders to STEM leaders, Faith leaders, Sport leaders, Social Justice leaders, Arts leaders, and Sustainability leaders, their dedication and enthusiasm are truly inspiring. I have every confidence that they will lead by example and make a positive impact on our school community.

In other exciting news, I'm delighted to announce the completion of our Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA)! This fantastic addition to our school will provide countless opportunities for outdoor education and recreation, rain or shine.

What a great evening we had yesterday as we officially welcomed our Prep families to our school community. The Prep Family Welcome BBQ was a tremendous success, filled with laughter, delicious food, and warm camaraderie. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this memorable evening. Your presence made it truly special.

Looking forward, we remind families that this coming Thursday March 7 and Friday March 8 are designated school closure days to allow an opportunity for our staff to engage in essential professional development. Your understanding and support are deeply appreciated as we strive to enhance our teaching practices for the benefit of all our students. Care is available for students via the Camp Australia website for those who need it. Don't forget too, that Monday March 11 is the Labour Day public holiday - a well-deserved break for our hardworking families and staff alike.

Finally, a friendly reminder that our Working Bee is happening tomorrow from 9 am to midday. Your help in maintaining and beautifying our school grounds is invaluable, and your participation is greatly welcomed!

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and enthusiasm. Together, we can continue to create a warm, inclusive, and thriving community here at St. Kevin's.

Warm regards,

Jason Micallef,
Principal

Introducing our Student Leaders for 2024!

We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the remarkable young leaders who will be guiding our school forward this year. Handpicked from our Grade 6 cohort, these students embody the spirit of excellence, compassion, and service that defines our St. Kevin's community.

Congratulations Mrs Smith

It is with great joy that we announce the arrival of the newest member of the St. Kevin's family, Baby Eamon John, born to our beloved Mrs. Sarah Smith! 🌟

As we celebrate this precious moment, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sarah and her family on the arrival of their bundle of joy. May this beautiful addition bring endless love, laughter, and cherished memories to their lives. 👪💖

Together we join in prayer, asking God to bless Baby Eamon John with health, happiness, and a lifetime filled with His abundant grace. 🙏✨

Education in Faith

Weekly Gospel Reflection: Mark 1:40-45

The Transfiguration of the Lord is a pivotal event in the story of salvation. This profound episode involves Jesus taking three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John, up a mountain, where He is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Alongside Him appear Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. A voice from a cloud declares Jesus as the beloved Son, urging the disciples to listen to Him.

This powerful moment is rich in symbolism and offers various layers of reflection. Here are some key aspects to ponder:

Divine Revelation:

The Transfiguration is a manifestation of Jesus' divinity. His radiant appearance signifies His divine glory. This event serves as a powerful revelation, affirming Jesus' unique role as the Son of God. It strengthens the disciples' understanding of His identity and mission.

Connection with the Past:

The presence of Moses and Elijah highlights the connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

Mountaintop Experience:

The mountain is often seen as a place of encounter with the divine. In our lives, there are moments of clarity, insight, and inspiration – mountaintop experiences. Transfiguration encourages us to recognise and cherish these moments, understanding that they shape and guide us.

Preparation for the Cross:

Following the Transfiguration, Jesus prepares to face His journey to the cross. This transition from the mountaintop to the challenges below symbolises the earthly struggles we all encounter. It teaches us that moments of glory and challenge coexist in our journey of faith.

Listening to Jesus:

The divine voice instructs the disciples to listen to Jesus. In our busy lives, filled with noise and distractions, the Transfiguration encourages us to pause, reflect, and truly listen to the teachings of Jesus. His words guide us in navigating life's complexities.

Transformation and Growth:

The dazzling transformation of Jesus prompts reflection on our own transformation. How are we allowing the light of Christ to transform us? The Transfiguration challenges us to continually grow in our faith, becoming more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and actions.

2025 Enrolments!

Exciting times are ahead, especially for those with little ones gearing up to join our vibrant school community in 2025!

If you've got a child (or sibling) ready to take the leap into school life, make sure to pick up an enrolment pack from the office and submit your completed forms to the office. Big shoutout to all the proactive parents who've already jumped on board – your enthusiasm is contagious!

But wait, there's more! Spread the word far and wide! Let your neighbours, friends, and anyone else with a little one itching to dive into the school scene know that we're offering tours every Wednesday morning at 9:30 am. They won't want to miss it!

And hey, here's a little insider tip: interviews for new families will kick off in Term 2 – so get ready to welcome some fresh faces into our ever-growing family!

Now, here's where you come in. Help us spread the love by sharing your stories about the fantastic learning experiences and extra-curricular adventures our school has to offer. After all, word of mouth is the absolute best way to show off our incredible school community!

And it gets better!... if your referral leads to a successful enrolment of a new family at St. Kevin's anytime in 2024, you benefit from a 5% discount on your 2025 school fees!

Let's keep the excitement building, folks – together, we're shaping the future, one bright young mind at a time!

Learning & Teaching

Learning is fun in Grade 1!

In Grade 1, the students are learning how to tell time! They are focusing on understanding 'o'clock' and 'half past.' Through engaging activities and lessons, teachers are helping the students become more comfortable reading the clock and knowing what different times mean.

By learning this important skill, your child is not only getting better at math but also gaining a useful tool for managing their time. It's all part of their exciting journey of growth and learning in Grade 1!

Critical & Creative Thinking

- Cyber Safety-

Our students in years 1-6 have fortnightly specialist lessons focused on developing Critical and Creative Thinking skills. In simple terms, critical and creative thinking helps students:

• Understand how they think: This means they learn about different ways to approach problems and come up with solutions.
• Think for themselves: They can use their knowledge and skills to solve problems and make decisions, not just copy others.
• Think in different ways: They can be flexible and consider various approaches, not just the first one that comes to mind.
• Be confident in their thinking: They feel comfortable analysing information, solving problems, and making choices in new situations.

This year, students will be focusing on developing these skills while learning about cybersafety. Mrs Bonato is very excited about the positive start to these lessons and has lots of engaging learning experiences planned. This program is also one of the ways that our school meets the requirements of the Child Safety Standards - particularly Standard 9 (Child safety in physical & online environments).

In the first school newsletter this year, Mrs Broadhurst mentioned that we would be using the eSmart program. eSmart also offer support for parents and is offering a free webinar in April which you can sign up for at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1165807

One of the ways we support all students every year is to work through our ICT User Agreement which comes home as a paper copy to be discussed with mum and dad, signed and returned to school. We also send out further information on Operoo with the Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement to be signed digitally. Both of these agreements come from our overall ICT Acceptable Usage Policy and support our students to begin understanding how to use technology safely and effectively. If you haven’t signed these agreements, please do so as a matter of priority. Further copies are available from the classroom teachers.

Community

Camp Australia Update

Camp Australia is our before and after-school care providers. They also operate the Rocketeers! The school holiday program that runs from our school hall.

We are excited to share that one of our students has been awarded a winner in the 2024 Rocketeers Film Festival: powered by LEGO Play.

Out of over 1,900 entries from 230 services across the country, Camp Australia selected 14 winning films and 42 film makers who showcased incredible talent and creativity in LEGO® building and stop-motion filmmaking.

"We have been blown away by the imagination of the children and the passion they showed. It has truly been a wonderful experience that brought a lot of joy to the children, and we would like to thank everyone who took part in it."

Join us in congratulating our winning St. Kevin's student, in the category of Quickest Creative Solution - GALVYN from grade 1.

Join us at 6:30pm on March 3 to watch all the film entries by visiting the Camp Australia YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@campaustraliaOSHC.

You can head to https://campaustralia.com.au/film-fest to find out more about the Film Festival. 

Parents & Friends Association

An invitation from our fabulous PFA President!

Easter raffle tickets were sent home this week with the eldest in the family. Please see the flyer above. If you did not receive tickets or need more please come to the office.

Thanks to all the families who have donated Easter eggs. so far; it is greatly appreciated!

Canteen News

Unfortunately the Halal certified Mamee Hot Noodles (chicken and beef) that we have previously used in our canteen have been discontinued. Here is the updated Halal Certified food list

Bellbrook Catering Certified Halal Food

• Angel Bay Beef Burgers
• Cavos Chicken Burgers
• Cavos Chicken Nuggets
• Mrs Mac’s Halal Beef Pie  - not stocked in all schools
• Alina Chef Vegetarian Fried Rice -  not stocked in all schools
• Fantastic Cup Noodles (Beef and Chicken) – not certified but suitable.

Parish News

Neighbourhood News